Luis Felipe Derani is moving up the ranks and into a full-time WEC ride.

Motorsport.com can exclusively reveal that Luis Felipe Derani is set to undertake a full season of FIA World Endurance Championship action in 2015.

The Brazilian, known universally as ‘Pipo’ will race in the LMP2 division with a leading team, fulfilling a long-held ambition of racing at the Le Mans 24 Hours. His plans for the season will be fully revealed tomorrow at the official launch of the FIA WEC and Le Mans 24 Hours entry lists in Paris.

“It is a very exciting time for me and I cannot wait to get started in the FIA World Endurance Championship this season,” said Derani, speaking Motorsport.com today. “I already have a very good feeling within the team and the package we have is a very strong one indeed. I will be racing to finish what I started in 2014, when I competed in the ELMS. My aims and ambitions with my new team are to challenge for victories, but I have in mind that I have a lot to learn and this is the mentality I am entering FIA WEC with. I am confident that this will be a very memorable year for me.”

Background

Derani made the switch to endurance racing from single seaters in September last season when he raced at Paul Ricard and Estoril for the Murphy Prototypes squad in an Oreca-Nissan (with a podium finish on his debut and the fastest lap in Portugal). Derani is a Gold categorised driver by dint of his third place at the F3 Macau Grand Prix in 2013.

Motorsport.com understands that at least one of Derani’s team mates will also be unveiled in Paris tomorrow.